Surprise City Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

The regular city council meeting began with an invocation by Miss Valenzuela, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by students from Valley Vista High School's Purple Star Club and Youth Government Club. City Manager Davis introduced two Surprise Youth Council members, Mila Witt and David Thompson, who reported on upcoming community events. The clerk provided an election update, noting early voting hours and locations. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar of seven items.

Consent Calendar

• All seven items approved without discussion or pull.

Neighborhood Grant Program (Item 8)

Seth Dysonway presented the Neighborhood Grant Program recommendations for fiscal year 2027. The subcommittee on community outreach partnerships and grants (Chair Judd, Councilmembers Haney and Duffy) recommended funding all four applications totaling $10,000 from the grant program budget. Projects included events in Homestead at Marley Park, Royal Ranch, City Center, and Sierra Montana. Councilmember Judd praised the projects and suggested increasing future funding. The motion to accept the recommendations passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jeffrey August (President of Capus Rural, representing Whitman residents) clarified that Whitman seeks incorporation, not annexation. He stated they have 738 signatures and requested a formal city council response and placement on an agenda. He noted a work session scheduled for November 2nd to discuss the matter.
• Charles Makula (Whitman resident) urged support for incorporation, arguing for local control over zoning, roads, and other services.
• Sharon Accratelli (Whitman resident) expressed frustration over the city's inaction, asking why Surprise has not supported incorporation. She feared the city intends to use Whitman land for warehouses.
• Lori Hendershot (Whitman resident) recounted four years of efforts to incorporate, stating residents love the rural life and dark skies. She asked the council to permit incorporation.
• Alex Christ (Surprise resident) praised the Surprise Fire Department and encouraged resident participation in the upcoming election.
• Brent Peak (North Phoenix resident) expressed concern about the ICE detention facility and adjacent Rinchem warehouse. He criticized the lack of emergency planning from DHS and GardaWorld and noted that a chemical risk management plan shows a hazardous zone of 2.7 miles affecting 73,000 people. He urged the council to investigate whether the site is suitable for mass detention.
• William Buckingham (Surprise resident) criticized the mayor and council for their handling of the ICE facility. He claimed a $300,000 home near the facility could lose $60,000 in value. He stated he had made three public records requests for documents from the March DC trip but received no response, and accused the city clerk and manager of not following the law.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
• The Neighborhood Grant Program recommendations were approved unanimously.
• A work session on the Whitman incorporation request is scheduled for November 2, 2026.
• Councilmembers reported on upcoming community meetings: Councilmember (district 1) at Asante Heritage; Vice Mayor on water meetings; Councilmember Melton meeting at Sun Village on October 28; Councilmember Hastings anniversary mention; Councilmember Judd and Duffy hosting a meeting on November 7 at The Corral.
• The meeting adjourned.